SLOVAKIA SUPPORTIVE OF SYRIAN NATIONAL COUNCIL

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRATISLAVA 000018 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR/NCE, NEA/ELA; NSC FOR STERLING E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/10/2018 TAGS: PREL PHUM LO SY SUBJECT: SLOVAKIA SUPPORTIVE OF SYRIAN NATIONAL COUNCIL REF: STATE 171106 Classified By: Charge d'Affaires, A.I., Lawrence R. Silverman, Reasons 1.4 b and d. ¶1. (C) Charge delivered reftel points to Ambassador Marian Tomasik, Director of the Asia, Africa and Middle East Directorate at the MFA on January 8. Tomasik agreed fully on the need to shine the light on the Syrian regime's human rights violations and thought that the GOS would be able to say something on Syria's record. Noting our disappointment that President Gasparovic had not taken full advantage of the opportunity to do so during his Dcember 18 visit to Damascus, Charge strongly urged the GOS to express its support for basic human rights in Syria on a national basis, too. (Note: in an earlier meeting with Pol/Econ chief, Tomasik reported that Gasparovic had urged President Asad to pursue peaceful relations with Syria's neighbors and had specifically warned about the dangers posed by the Iranian regime, but had not addressed the situation in Lebanon nor human rights in Syria. End Note.) ¶2. (C) Charge stressed that, as current Chair of the Council of Europe, Europe's premier institution for monitoring and advocating human rights -- and given Slovaks' past experience as part of an oppressive political system -- it would be natural for the GOS to speak in support of those who were calling on the SARG to observe basic human rights and to allow more space for legitimate and peaceful political activity. Tomasik indicated that Slovakia would consider further statements of support for the Council. Charge will reinforce our message with Foreign Minister Kubis's Chef de Cabinet, Milan Jenca, during their January 14 meeting, as well as with President Gasparovic's advisors. SILVERMAN